"What's going on at the University of Pittsburgh? Why are so many people around? ”

"I guess Marquette University has arrived."

Outside the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, another bus drove into Carnegie Mellon University across the street from Pittsburgh as the Marquette University bus drove into the University of Pittsburgh.

From the symbols and words on the body of this bus, it can be clearly recognized that this is the bus of the eighth seed in the Western Theater, UCLA University.

However, it is not the same as the situation of the Marquette University bus on the opposite side surrounded by a sea of people.

The UCLA buses are largely devoid of any welcoming fans and waiting journalists.

The atmosphere is so embarrassing, especially for UCLA.

UCLA is known as the No. 1 team in the NCAA, but the results in recent seasons have really stretched their hips, especially this season.

In the regular season of the P-10 League, UCLA was only in sixth place.

As the No. 1 team in the NCAA, it is now reduced to teams like the University of Washington and Arizona State University.

In the playoffs of the P-10 League, UCLA was eliminated by the University of California in the first round.

If it weren't for the history of the NCAA's No. 1 club, UCLA would have missed a national tournament for the first time in 15 years.

Of course, since it is the No. 1 giant in NCAA history, the NCAA official still has to give this face.

So the NCAA officially invited UCLA to participate in the national championship this year.

If UCLA still has this half-dead record next year, I'm afraid it won't have such a generous treatment.

For UCLA, the NCAA officials really need some courtesy, after all, John Wooden is still there.

But for NCAA fans and the media, that's not a face-saving affair.

Hold your history and heritage, and stay where it is cool!

This season has been so cold that the UCLA players on the bus have some resentment.

Compared with the treatment of Marquette University not far away, this made the atmosphere of the UCLA players in the bus a little quiet for a while.

"It's a terrible atmosphere......"

"Shhhhhh

Sitting in the back of the bus, Kaedrick Bozeman, the 19th National Talent of the Class of 2001, whispered to Andre Patterson, the 39th National Talent of the Class of 2001.

"This season's Marquette University is really an enviable and jealous team."

After another 2001 talent, Dion Thompson, who ranked 28th in the United States, sighed softly, Bozeman and Patterson kept nodding their heads.

There's no doubt that Marquette University is the star of this season's NCAA!

And it's not the kind of ordinary little protagonist, but the same as the Michigan Five Tigers, a super protagonist who can be ranked in the history of the NCAA!

For such a team, there are very few NCAA players who do not have a sense of gap.

Especially for players from the number one team like UCLA.

It always makes people feel that everything that Marquette University is enjoying now is like being snatched from them.

But even if everything from Marquette University was stolen from UCLA, so what?

It's no wonder that UCLA has been so bad this season.

The team had three talents in the class of 2001 alone.

Team boss Jason Capono himself was a 10th National Talent in 1999.

The team's other starters, Billy Knight, Matt Barnes, Dan Gazuric, and TJ Cummings are also some of the most famous star talents in the United States.

A team of eight-star talents, and finally play such a result this season, it is really a shame.

You know, Marquette University is a two-star player.

The tallest Travis Diner was 40th in the Class of 2001, just behind Andre Patterson, who was on the 39th off the bench at UCLA.

With the strength and thickness of this lineup, UCLA can't be the brave opposite Duke this season, and even UCLA fans are ashamed of them.

This season is so embarrassing, UCLA's five starters are a little ashamed, and seeing Marquette University so beautiful, the atmosphere can't be 'cheerful' and 'calm'.

The contrast is too strong.

The more glamorous Marquette is, the more disgraceful these UCLA players become.

"The pre-season matches are over, the national championship is a new start and a new opportunity, we don't need to continue to carry the baggage and pressure of the previous games now, instead of thinking about these inexplicable things, we should prepare well for the next games, as long as we can beat Marquette University, everything will come back!"

The titular boss of UCLA is Jason Capo.

But in reality, the team's starting swingman, Matt Barnes, is the one who really has the character of a leader.

The boss and leader are not alone, which is one of the reasons why UCLA has been so bad this season.

Matt Barnes was talking, trying to change the mood, but Jason Cappano next to him didn't even say anything.

Kapono didn't say anything, so how could the other UCLA players say anything?

For a moment, instead of reversing, the atmosphere became more strange.

"Ahem, defeat Marquette University, Matt said it was simple."

“……”

Not only did Capono not take the opportunity to support a wave of Barnes at this time, but instead said such words, which made the face of Barnes next to him change a little instantly, and the two casserole-sized fists had already been pinched.

And Capono as if he didn't see it.

"Do you know what level of team Marquette is and what level of team we have?"

"No matter what level of team, we are here to be the winners, not to be soft eggs!"

"You say you're the winner, I'm a softie?!"

For a moment, the atmosphere had become tense.

And the rest of the people in the car were as if they didn't see it.

Including the team's head coach, Steve LaVine.

LaVine is 37 years old and a young marshal.

After taking over the team for a few years, the record has been getting worse and worse, and there is no charisma like Tom Crean's, and the team is all American talents.

This made his team's job extremely difficult.

The prestige he already did not have was basically negligible in the absence of victory.

In addition, his own handsome position is also in turmoil.

has no confidence, and can't be tough, how to control these young and vigorous geniuses?

It can only be regarded as not seeing.

"It's going to start again."

Young players such as Kedrik Bozeman in the back of the bus looked down after one look at each other, looking at USA Today's guide to this year's NCAA, which Capono just asked Barnes, Marquette University and UCLA where this season's level came from.

The manager didn't see it, and of course they could only act as if they didn't see it.

And, compared to the two big guys on the team, this guide to USA Today is much more interesting.

USA Today's guide classifies the 65 teams competing in the NCAA National Championship into six divisions: SSS, SS, S, A, B, and C.

Among them, S level and above are the two levels outside the theory.

In a normal year, the NCAA generally does not have SS and SSS teams.

This year, there were suddenly two.

There is only one team in the SSS class, Duke.

The SS-level team is also only one Marquette University.

There are two S-tier teams at the peak of normal teams, the University of Maryland and the University of Kansas.

And their UCLA University, as the eighth seed in the Western Theater, was rated as a B.

Compared with Marquette University, it is a full three grades worse.

Such a gap, to be honest, is humiliating.

So, judging from the guide prepared by USA Today, UCLA's attempt to beat Marquette University is no different from a fool's dream.

But......

"Kaderick, I think it's good to take a look at this guide for USA Today, it's outrageous that we are rated B, and Marquette University's evaluation of SS is even more outrageous, Marquette University has been stirring up trouble in that small pond in C-USA for three months, the previous non-league competition, they had to rely on Wonder Boy's lore to win five games, and their strength is definitely not as terrible as the guide of USA Today!"

"I think so too, the whole country knows that today's America is 'Eagle Blowing', I like to blow Wade, blow the wonder boy, by the way, recently they blew that Akron kid, I think these three guys are like that, especially the kid in Akron, I think Kaedric your performance in high school was much better than him, who is not a five-star high school student?!"

It can be seen that too much public opinion is indeed prone to cause a backlash from some people.

"Hehe, that national live high school game was still very exciting, and LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony had great performances in that game."

For the resentment of his teammates, Kaedrick Bozeman did not pick up, he can understand the resentment of his teammates, everyone was a four-star and five-star high school student in high school, which is not the attention of the whole United States, but now he is a substitute at UCLA, the contrast is too great.

Although he is also a five-star high school student, he also has a sense of contrast in his heart.

But he knew that his performance in high school was not as shocking as that Akron kid.

As for what the future holds for that Akron kid, he doesn't know.

But right now, is Marquette really blowing it out?

Kedrik Bozeman bowed his head again.

"Marquette University's Golden Eagles are one of the strongest teams in the NCAA this season, and how to defend the interior in the NCAA National Championship will be the key to the team's goal, and their goal is to win the second NCAA Championship trophy in team history.

"Dwyanwade, Marquette University's starting forward, Marquette University's pillar on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, has incredible athleticism and incredible all-round ability, except for the three-point range, he has no shortcomings on the court, and his performance in the conference will also determine the success or failure of the Golden Eagles, as well as his future draft prospects, overall evaluation: SSS (the only two 3S players this season, the top pick)."

"Ron Howard, Marquette University's starting forward, Marquette University's defensive knife, can defend from the No. 1 position to the No. 4 position on the court, especially good at single defense, elegant and clean defensive style, is one of the best defensive players in the NCAA, at the same time, Ron Howard also has a very good dribbling ability, maybe he doesn't have Wade's earth-shattering breakthrough, but his dribbling is as perfect as his defense, rarely misses, in addition, he also has a very comprehensive and above level of offensive ability, Overall Rating: S (One of the top 20 S-level players in the NCAA, a lottery favorite.) ）”

"Travis Dina, Marquette University's starting point guard, Marquette University's dribble guard, has the NCAA's top three-point shooting ability, but also has the NCAA's top dribbling ability, he has the same characteristics as Ron Howard with very few dribbling errors, and also has a level of defensive ability, comprehensive evaluation: A (NCAA star player, with NBA prospects. ）”

"Oda Blaxon, the starting center of Marquette University, is not tall at 2.01 meters, but has excellent strength and bounce, is one of the best frontcourt rebounders in the NCAA, and has the NCAA's top interior single defense and co-defense ability, moves quickly, has a comprehensive offense, and has almost no other weaknesses on the court except for height. Overall Rating: A (NCAA star player with NBA prospects.) ）”

"Chen Xiao, Marquette University's starting point guard, the most amazing and unpredictable player in the NCAA, has a magical talent called 'God's Eye' by the United States, an incredible talent for smell on the court, and can give the opponent a fatal blow at a critical moment, however, as the first beginner official player in NCAA history, his basketball foundation is very weak, and his physical talent is not good enough. 'Eyes of God' will be the ace and X-factor for Marquette University in this tournament, and his talent flash could well determine the success or failure of Marquette University this season, and at the same time, he may be the only reason why Marquette University can beat Duke. Overall Rating: X (Unknown), NBA Prospects: Unknown. ”

The five starters have an SSS rating, an S rating, 2 A ratings, and an X (unknown) rating.

You know, of the five starters at UCLA, there are only two A-level players, Capono and Dan Gazuric!

Just looking at the gap between the players, the gap between the two teams is even bigger.

"Kedric, you don't have to care, we're just minions of the team now, and the match with Marquette University is not something we can decide, what's more, if we want to meet Marquette University, we also need to go through the first round, maybe we will be eliminated by the University of Mississippi in the first round?"

"That's right."

A smile finally appeared on the face of Kedrik Bozeman, who had been frowning.

Yes, these bigwigs of the team have left the team, and he is qualified to worry about the team's affairs.

Now, he may not even be qualified to worry about it.

March Madness of the NCAA Tournament is one of the craziest sporting events in the nation.

This kind of madness can only be clearly felt after Chen Xiao leaves Milwaukee in the stratosphere.

"It turns out that not only in Milwaukee, but in the whole of the United States, we all have such crazy popularity!"

This really scared Chen Xiao.

Not to mention Chen Xiao, even Wade and Ron Howard were scared.

When they arrived in Pittsburgh, no matter how dull they were, they could feel that feeling of being the protagonists and the focus of the whole country.

"However, if you don't do well in this national championship, I'm afraid that the praise you are enjoying now will turn into accusations and criticism."

"Yes, they don't just want you because of your charisma, but because of the victories you keep winning."

Tom Crane and Tim Barkley have been vaccinating these youngsters on the team all the time.

Hearing the two coaches of the team say this, Chen Xiao and Wade of course nodded in agreement.

"Mr. Kerry and Mr. Barkley are right, the NCAA National Championship is not the same as the C-USA game, there are no real underdogs here, and as long as one game is not in the groove, we can't have a second chance."

"And our grouping in the Western Theater is not so good, in addition to us, the No. 2 seed University of Oklahoma, the No. 3 seed University of Arizona are also strong, by the way, the No. 4 seed Gonzaga University we have played against before, we won by a small kill."

Hearing Henry talk about Gonzaga University, Chen Xiao and the others had a chill.

This team is really high, and it can really attack!.

It's rare to come across this kind of team with a lot of good big men at C-USA University, but in the NCAA tournament, there are quite a few such teams.

For a team that lacks height, Marquette University will not be so easy to play against teams with good big men.

"It's still early to meet these teams, and we need to get through the 'Pittsburgh' level first, and Pittsburgh also has a No. 1 NCAA team that can't be ignored."

"UCLA......"

Hearing this name, Chen Xiao remembered the first good friend he made in the United States in addition to his teammates, David Bailly.

In that game, David Bailly almost broke him and the team with a UCLA air cut.

It's a bit of a shame that David Bailly and Loyola University didn't compete in the national competition.

It's a shame to say that David Bailly led Loyola University to the Horizon League Championship Finals, but was defeated by the University of Illinois at Chicago in the finals.

The Horizon League has only one national slot this season......

Although David Bailly was unable to participate in this year's national competition, Chen Xiao was a little regretful, but seeing the real legendary UCLA and the real UCLA air cut still made Chen Xiao look forward to it.

Of course, before you can meet UCLA, you need to beat Boston University in the first round.

On March 15, 2002, Mellon Stadium, which can accommodate more than 13,000 people, was full.

In the full audience of the 'Golden Three! In the cheers, Marquette University, one of the biggest favorites in this year's NCAA, under the leadership of Wade and Chen Xiao, appeared.

When Chen Xiao, Wade and others stood on the field, the frequency of the flashing magnesium lights simply made people feel that they were the center of this world.

"His journey is finally about to begin!"

In front of the TV, David Stern felt his heart beat a little faster.

"I'm going to see if you can continue to sweep in the national competition!"

Jay Williams and the Duke players gritted their teeth with disdain and disbelief written across their faces.

“Golden Three……”

Akron, a certain teenager looked at the extremely warm atmosphere and the constantly flickering magnesium lights on the scene, and his eyes were full of envy and anticipation.

This stage will also belong to him in the future!

"Boys, do you see, they are another double S team in NCAA history, and that person is the first X ace in NCAA history!"

"As long as we can beat them in this game, we can make a name for ourselves in the United States!"

At the Mellon Stadium, Boston University head coach Dennis Wolf was roaring loudly.

Led by him, the excited Boston University players let out a wolf-like battle cry.

The big war is on the verge of breaking out!

ps: Big chapter, ask for recommendation, ask for collection!!